News

Nicaraguan construction site with the travel team, community leaders, and contractors

Chicago Staff Assist Nicaraguan Community

May 9, 2016

This month, Associate Principal Christine Freisinger and Senior Associate James Lewan, both from WJE's Chicago office, traveled with seven engineering students and one staff member from the Engineers Without Borders chapter of the Illinois Institute of Technology (EWB-IIT) to San Claudio, Nicaragua. EWB-IIT has worked with the community for several years to assist with the feasibility study of a proposed bridge to be used during the rainy season (May to November). Despite the channel work required for the proposed bridge being postponed by the local municipality due to funding resources, EWB-IIT chose to continue working in the community to assist with the design of composting latrines.

During the May 2016 implementation trip, the composting latrines were constructed at a school, along with a hand washing station. In the future, the design will be used for a pilot program in the community with our partner organization, FNE International, who has been working in the community to develop affordable housing and improved cooking stoves. The WJE Pro Bono Program provided assistance for the implementation trip.